awaiting
him. The old professor looked hale and hearty, although his form was
slightly bent and his hair was gray and white. Jessie, round-cheeked and
rosy, was the picture of health and beauty.

"There he is! There's Dave!" cried the miss, and leaped to the sidewalk
to shake hands.

"Why, how tall you are getting, Jessie," said the boy, and then blushed,
for the handshake she gave him was a very cordial one. "How do you do,
Professor?" And he shook hands with the man who had done so much for him
in his younger years.

"I am very well indeed, Dave," answered Professor Potts. "Will you sit
up here by me, or with Miss Jessie?"

"Dave must come in with me," said Jessie, promptly.

"Did my Uncle Dunston come?" questioned the boy, looking around, for he
had fully expected to see his relative.

"No, he has a touch of rheumatism in his left knee," answered Caspar
Potts.

"That's too bad."

Dave assisted Jessie to a seat and then got in beside her, and tucked in
the handsome fur robe. Off went the team at a spanking gait, past the
stores of the town and then in the direction of the Wadsworth mansion.
Many looked at Dave as he rode by and thought him a lucky boy--and he
certainly was lucky, and thankful for it.

The mansion reached, Dave was warmly greeted by Mrs. Wadsworth, and,
later on, by Mr. Wadsworth, who had been to his large jewelry works on
business. The lad found his Uncle Dunston in his room, in an easy-chair,
with his rheumatic leg resting on a low stool.

"It's not so very bad, Dave," said Dunston Porter, after their greeting
was over. "I hope to be around again before long. But it is too bad it
should come on at this time, when I had hoped to go to London with you."

Dave sat down, and a conversation lasting the best part of an hour
ensued. The boy told all he knew about Nick Jasniff, and showed the
letter which Gus Plum had received. Dunston Porter said he had sent
several cablegrams to London, but so far had heard nothing of
satisfaction.

"I even sent a money order to this Nick Jasniff, thinking he might try
to get it cashed, but the order has not been called for. The money was
cabled to London and then put in a letter for the General Delivery
department. Evidently this Jasniff is keeping shady, or otherwise he has
left the city or is living under an assumed name."

"I know pretty much the sort of a chap he is," said Dave. "He likes to
go to the theater, and he was a great chap to bowl. If I go